Wrist watch strap connections

ABSTRACT

A wristwatch case has a side wall over which an outer ring is removably engaged and held by two spring members each having a middle part forming a bracelet loop and curved extremities engaging in facing grooves of the case and wall. An outer terminal part of each extremity normally engages in the groove of the ring but, for fitting or removal of the ring, can be compressed into a groove of the case by an inclined surface on the ring.

United States Patent Cachelin et al.

[54] WRIST WATCH STRAP CONNECTIONS [72] Inventors: Gerard Cachelin; Etienne Jeannottat, both of Le Locle, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Fabrique dhorlogerie Chas. Tissot & Fils SA, Le Locle, Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 134,257

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 22, 1970 Switzerland.........................599l/7O [52] 1.1.8. C1. ..58/88 SC [51] Int. Cl. ..G04h 37/00 [58] Field of Search "58/88, 90, 91, 92, 94,127

[56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,165,884 1/l965 Gwinner et a1 ..58/88 W 3,431,722 3/1969 Haas ..58/91 X [451 May 2,1972

3,548,588 12/1970 Piquerez ..58/91 3,561,209 2/1971 Cachelin ....58/88 SC 3,583,151 6/1971 Tissot et a1 ..58/88 SC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 827,064 4/1938 France ..58/91 61,739 10/1912 Switzerland ..58/127 R Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistan; Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [57] ABSTRACT A wristwatch case has a side wall over which an outer ring is removably engaged and held by two spring members each having a middle part forming a bracelet loop and curved extremities engaging in facing grooves of the case and wall. An outer terminal part of each extremity normally engages in the groove of the ring but, for fitting or removal of the ring, can be compressed into a groove of the case by an inclined surface on the ring.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 WRIST WATCH STRAP CONNECTIONS This invention relates to Wristwatches in which a watch case comprises a side wall and a removable outer ring engaged about the side wall.

Applicants U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,209 discloses a wristwatch comprising a case, a side wall for the case, and a removable outer ring engaged over the side wall. The sidewall and ring have facing grooves in which the extremities of two oppositely facing spring elements engage to axially maintain the ring on the side wall, the middle part of the spring elements forming loops serving to secure a bracelet. The extremities of the spring elements pinch the side wall, the side wall being curved and said extremities having a substantially identical curvature such that an inward radial pressure exerted on the middle part of the spring elements will apply said extremities solely within the groove of the side wall to thereby free the outer ring.

In order to remove the outer ring of such a watch, the user must inwardly press the two loop-forming middle parts of the spring elements with one hand whilst gripping the outer ring with the other hand. This operation requires a certain handskill which cannot be achieved by every user and, moreover, once the outer ring is removed, the spring elements tend to escape.

The invention aims to provide an improved wristwatch of a similar type to that above-mentioned, but in which removal of the outer ring is facilitated.

According to the invention, there is provided a wristwatch comprising a case, a side wallfor the case, a removable outer ring engaged over the side wall, said side wall and ring having facing grooves, and spring elements having extremities engaging in said grooves in order to axially maintain the ring on the side wall, a middle part of each element forming a loop serving to secure a bracelet, wherein said extremities each comprise an inwardly directed first part adjacent said middle part, Said first part engaging in and bearing against a wall of a groove of the side wall, and an outwardly directed part adjacent said first part, said outwardly directed part terminating with a second part normally engaging in a groove of the outer ring, said groove of the outer ring having a surface arranged such that an axial pressure exerted on the outer ring in relation to the watch case causes said surface to bear against said second parts of the elements to apply each second part solely within a groove of the side wall to thereby free the outer ring.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view through part of a wristwatch according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 1, but

with the outer ring removed.

The wrist watch shown comprises a case 1 with a side wall la on which a glass 2 is fixed by means of a seated ring 3. The watch case houses a movement 4 and other conventional watch components.

Four cavities 5 are provided in the side wall la, one such cavity being shown in the drawings. An outer ring 6 is removably fitted over the serted ring 3 andside wall 1a, an internal peripheral groove 7 in the ring 6 fitting around the cavities 5.

Two spring members 8 are providedto hold the ring 6 on the side wall In. Each spring member comprises a straight middle part 8a forming a loop for the attachment of a bracelet strap and symmetrical substantially S-shape extremities. Each extremity comprises an inwardly directed part 8b the inner side of which bears against a wall 5a of a cavity 5, an intermediate part which bears against the bottom of the groove 5, and a part that curves outwardly to terminate with an outer part 80 which protrudes into the groove 7.

The lower part of the outer ring 6 is cut away in the vicinity of the middle parts 8a so as to allow access for the ends of a bracelet.

The peripheral groove 7 has an inclined lower surface 7a, .whilst the lower part of the outer ring 6 has a bevelled wall 6a.

The outer ring 6 is thus fitted to the watch case, a watch bracelet having been fitted to the loop portions 8a and the spring members 8 with fitted bracelet having been clipped into the cavities 5, by a simple downward pressure, bevelled wall 6a compressing sections 80 of the spring member into the cavities 5 during this movement, and the sections 8c springing into engagement with the groove 7 as soon as it is in alignment with the cavities 5. When the watch is worn, the tension of the bracelet tends to urge section 8c into the groove 7 to thereby increase the grip on outer ring 6.

To remove the outer ring 6, it is sufficient to upwardly press the ring 6 in relation to the watch case. The sections 80 are compressed into the cavities 5 by bearing against the inclined surface 7a the angle of which is chosen so as to ensure secure holding of the outer ring 6 onto the watch case 1 during normal wear, but to allow removal of the ring 6 when a firm, even pressure is applied thereto. After removal of the outer ring 6, the spring sections remain clipped in the cavities 5 by pressure of the part 8b against wall 5a. However, the spring sections 8 can be easily removed, when the outer ring 6 is removed, by exerting an outward pull thereupon.

The watch case 1 can be provided in any suitable material: fiberglass is particularly advantageous since it facilitates provision of the cavities 5. The outer ring 6 can also be in any suitable material, and is advantageously in a noble metal, or plated with a noble metal, to give a pleasing outer appearance to the watch.

What is claimed is: v

1. A wristwatch comprising a case, a side wall for the case, a removable outer ring engaged over the side wall, said side wall and ring having facing grooves, and spring elements having extremities engaging in said grooves in order to axially maintain the ring on the side wall, a middle part of each element forming a loop serving to secure a bracelet, wherein said extremities each comprise an inwardly directed first part adjacent said middle part, said first part engaging in and bearing against a wall of a groove of the side wall, and an outwardly directed part adjacent said first part, said outwardly directed part terminating with a second part normally engaging in a groove of the outer ring, said groove of the outer ring having a surface arranged such that an axial pressure exerted on the outer ring in relation to the watch case causes said surface to bear against said second parts of the elements to apply each second part solely within a groove of the side wall to thereby free the outer ring.

2. A wristwatch according to claim 1, in which the side wall comprises a pair of groove-like cavities for each of two spring elements, said first parts of each element bearing against facing end walls of a pair of cavities whereby each element is held in place on the watch case. 

1. A wristwatch comprising a case, a side wall for the case, a removable outer ring engaged over the side wall, said side wall and ring having facing grooves, and spring elements having extremities engaging in said grooves in order to axially maintain the ring on the side wall, a middle part of each element forming a loop serving to secure a bracelet, wherein said extremities each comprise an inwardly directed first part adjacent said middle part, said first part engaging in and bearing against a wall of a groove of the side wall, and an outwardly directed part adjacent said first part, said outwardly directed part terminating with a second part normally engaging in a groove of the outer ring, said groove of the outer ring having a surface arranged such that an axial pressure exerted on the outer ring in relation to the watch case causes said surface to bear against said second parts of the elements to apply each second part solely within a groove of the side wall to thereby free the outer ring.
 2. A wristwatch according to claim 1, in which The side wall comprises a pair of groove-like cavities for each of two spring elements, said first parts of each element bearing against facing end walls of a pair of cavities whereby each element is held in place on the watch case. 